Common Purpose UK

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Common Purpose UK is an influential educational charity delivering a range of leadership training programmes to decision-makers drawn from all sectors of society.

The company states that what differentiates it from other leadership programme providers is its emphasis on the benefits for all those who participate in its programmes, and their employing organisations, of engaging constructively with the communities in which they live and work. It was founded in 1989 by current CEO, Julia Middleton.^[1] Its registered office is in London.

The legal status of Common Purpose is that of a charity. In 2006 it has employed 142 people and received an income of £6,394,656. The objects of Common Purpose are the advancement of education for the public benefit with special emphasis on civil and social awareness and responsibility. The company states it aims to improve the way society works by expanding the vision, decision-making ability and influence of all kinds of leaders. ^[2]

Common Purpose claims that more than 120,000 people have been involved in Common Purpose and 25,000 leaders from every area of the UK have completed one or more of their programmes.^[3] Further Common Purpose claims that 70 per cent of the FTSE 100 companies have used their programmes to develop their leaders.^[4]^[5]

Common Purpose also regularly commissions research on contemporary management issues. ^[6]^[7]^[8]

1 Trustees
2 Notable past participants
3 Notable comments
4 Criticism
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Trustees

Chris Mathias, Chair, CMG partners (Chair)
Andrew Cubie, Senior Partner, Fyfe Ireland
Anu Omideyi, Barrister, Furnival Chambers
David Bell, Director for People, Pearson Plc
Simon Darling, Founder, Quiet Riots
Mark Adams, Netcare Healthcare
James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive, NE Chamber of Commerce
Kieran McPolin, Financial Controller, Openreach
Lucy de Groot, Executive Director, Improvement & Development Agency
Vincent McGinlay, Retired Director of Supply Chain and Technology, Marks & Spencer plc
Pam Chesters, Chair, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
Olu Olanrewaju, Managing Director, Urban/Focus Heart Ltd
Miriam Mulcahy, Independent Media Consultant

[edit] Notable past participants

Jeremy Beecham, former Chairman, Labour National Executive Committee
Chris Bryant, Member of Parliament for Rhondda
Baron Gordon of Strathblane, Scottish businessman
Rt Revd John Inge, Bishop of Worcester
Janet Paraskeva, First Civil Service Commissioner
Sir Charles Pollard, former Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police
Baden Skitt, member, Criminal Cases Review Commission

[edit] Notable comments

"Young people have so much to offer to society. Common Purpose has recognised this through their leadership development programmes and award schemes that develop and celebrate the potential of young people. The more active, informed young people there are making a positive contribution to their local schools and communities." - Zenna Atkins, Chair of OFSTED
"Common Purpose programmes deliver a fascinating insight into global and national trends and issues, through a unique combination of world-class speakers, actual field visits, and a richly diverse group of participants from all walks of the public and private sector world. Hugely thought-provoking." - Steve Peacock, Director, BP North Sea
"The most enlightening, informative and challenging programme. The standard both of presenters and participants was first rate. The opportunity to explore a whole range of strategic influences in such an imaginative way was invaluable." - Stuart Middleton, head of Group Management, HBOS plc
"Common Purpose is the glue than enables fraud to be committed across government departments to reward pro European politicians. Corrupt deals are enabled that put property or cash into their pockets by embezzling public assets." "A Critique by fringe group EUTruth"
"Of all the leadership programmes that I know of, those run by Common Purpose are by far the best, you only have to see the lasting effect on those who have participated in them to know that they work and work well. Civil society in a wide range of countries has benefited hugely from Common Purpose." - Professor Charles Handy, Management writer and broadcaster

[edit] Criticism

Common Purpose has of late come under criticism from intelligence writer Christopher Story,^[9] a former adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher,^[10] and ex-British naval officer and submarine warfare expert^{[citation needed]} Brian Gerrish who claim that its aim is to control the United Kingdom.^[11] Similar criticism of the organisation has come from the Campaign for an Independent Britain, the United Kingdom Independence Party, David Icke and the British National Party.^{[citation needed]}. Common Purpose trustees recently issued a brief response to these criticisms on their website.^[12]